The Benefits of Facial Massage

Facial massages aren’t just a relaxing luxury; this simple treatment can improve skin health and appearance. Massage stimulates pressure points on the face, leading to numerous benefits, which you’ll discover in today’s article.

Enjoy face massages from a practitioner, at a medical spa as part of a facial, or as self-massage along with your skincare routine. Using your fingertips, gently massage your face, moving from the center outward. You can also use a face massager, gau sha, jade roller, or another face massage technique. And don’t forget your favorite NassifMD® Skincare serum!

Keep reading as we discuss face massage benefits, including:

• Enhanced circulation
• Reduced puffiness
• Increased product absorption
• Relaxation and self-care
• Firms and lifts for anti-aging benefits
• Skin detoxification
• Decreased jaw tension

Enhances Circulation

The skin needs good circulation, just like the rest of your body. The dermis, the middle layer of skin, contains numerous tiny capillaries that bring blood flow to the skin. Facial massage improves facial circulation, which means more blood flow and increased oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin, allowing for cellular repair, turnover, and protection. Additionally, increased circulation helps remove cellular waste from the skin.

In one small study, participants performed self-facial massage with a jade roller on the right cheek for 5 minutes per day for 5 weeks. Short-term results included increased circulation in the cheek for a minimum of 10 minutes after the massage. Over the longer term, subjects experienced improved vascular dilation response (when the blood vessels expand allowing for increased blood flow).

Reduces Puffiness

If you suffer from puffy skin, it could mean you are retaining fluid in the skin of your face. The cause could be:

• Poor sleep habits or a poor sleep position
• An inflammatory diet or eating high-sodium foods
• Hormonal changes related to the menstrual cycle
• Not correctly cleansing the face; unwashed makeup or debris can irritate the skin

Please note that face puffiness and swelling commonly result from poor sleep or poor circulation but could also be a more serious medical condition. Please discuss this symptom with your healthcare provider.

Improved circulation and better lymphatic flow from facial massage means less puffiness and more glow. Massaging with a cold roller or ice cube can enhance results and decrease puffiness.

Boosts Product Absorption

Another benefit of face massage and the subsequent increased circulation is that it can boost the effectiveness of the skincare products you use. Face massage tools help skincare products penetrate more deeply into the skin, offering greater nourishment, protection, and healing.

Additionally, skincare massage works better with products that aid in the massage, allowing the tools or your fingers to glide over the skin. Options to use as facial massage oil include:

• NassifMD® Hydro-Screen
• NassifMD® Night Therapy Serum
• NassifMD® Radiance Brightening Booster Vitamin C Serum

Promotes Relaxation

Face massage benefits also include relaxation. Let’s face it: massage feels good and is relaxing for the nervous system and body. Overall, it’s an excellent way to practice stress management and self-care.

A small study of 50 midlife women (aged 40 to 60) evaluated self-facial massage on skin health and well-being. Researchers found that self-massage promoted visible, measured improvements in skin aging, such as reduced fine lines, increased plumpness, and more radiance. Participants also self-reported that their skin looked smoother with fewer fine lines. Additionally, 100% of participants reported improved well-being from daily self-massage.

Detoxifies Skin

The skin is a primary organ of detoxification. It releases what it no longer needs via evaporation and sweating. Additionally, a complex lymph system below the surface of the skin collects and transports bodily waste. But just like other parts of the body, these systems can become stagnant.

Massage helps move lymph, clear congestion, and open detoxification pathways. Detoxification is an essential bodily process for overall health and wellness; improving detoxification can also improve the function and appearance of the skin.

Relieves Jaw Tension

Jaw tension, pain, and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) conditions result from teeth clenching and grinding. Tension in the jaw and face creates discomfort and leads to headaches and dental issues. The root cause of jaw tension is often stress, poor posture, and unconscious habits, but massage can help relieve it.

Simple facial massage techniques, either done at home or with a practitioner, can help to relieve jaw tension and pain. Additionally, manipulation from a chiropractor or physical therapist may help restore proper alignment and prevent future pain.

Firms and Lifts

Facial massage can be a face lift massage! It stimulates collagen, improves the skin’s appearance, and has anti-aging benefits because of improved circulation and skincare absorption.

One study found that combining an anti-aging product with a face massager device amplified the product’s beneficial effects when compared to a control group who only used the anti-aging cream.

NassifMD® facial plastic surgeon skincare is expertly formulated with a deep understanding of anti-aging science and how the skin works. Each product combines synergistic active ingredients to improve the health and appearance of the skin. Facial massage only amplifies the effects.

To firm the skin and diminish lines and wrinkles, our skincare line offers helpful solutions.

NassifMD® Deco-Lift Neck & Decollete Firming & Lifting Complex targets and tones loose, thinning, crepey skin on the neck and chest with peptides, antioxidants, and glycolic acid. Use twice daily after cleansing and toning, along with a neck and decollete massage.

NassifMD® Micro-Spa Radiance Resurfacing Peel is an at-home version of the popular peel from NassifMD® Medical Spa. It provides an immediate skin refresh and anti-aging benefits. In this two-step process, the first step (Radiance Resurfacing Mask) uses vitamin C crystals to exfoliate the skin while providing antioxidants for repair and protection. The second step (Radiance Activating AHA/BHA gel) uses hydroxy acids to stimulate new skin growth. Use once or twice weekly.

NassifMD® Quickfix Instant Wrinkle Smoother instantly smooths fine lines and wrinkles as the formula temporarily tightens, hydrates, and smooths the skin. It’s especially effective around the eye area. Use any time of day, under or over makeup, for a literal face pick-me-up.

NassifMD® Pro Peptide Collagen Serum is another product that helps lift and firm the skin, combining peptides, hyaluronic acid, and beta glucans to stimulate collagen production and provide enhanced skin structure. Use it twice daily as part of your skincare routine. Massage it into the skin for added benefit.

The advantages of facial massage are far-reaching. It’s a very low risk intervention and could be the missing piece of your skin health routine. As you take time to apply serums and other products, add in some gentle massage to relax, detoxify, and enhance your skincare routine.

References

1. Miyaji, A., Sugimori, K., & Hayashi, N. (2018). Short- and long-term effects of using a facial massage roller on facial skin blood flow and vascular reactivity.Complementary therapies in medicine, 41, 271–276.
2. Flament, F., Maudet, A., & Bayer-Vanmoen, M. (2023). The objective and subjective impact of a daily self-massage on visible signs of stress on the skin and emotional well-being.International journal of cosmetic science, 45(6), 761–768.
3. Caberlotto, E., Ruiz, L., Miller, Z., Poletti, M., & Tadlock, L. (2017). Effects of a skin-massaging device on the ex-vivo expression of human dermis proteins and in-vivo facial wrinkles.PloS one, 12(3), e0172624.